"Why?!" Kujou Hattori demanded.
Ryuji's reasoning for keeping Kujou Hattori separate from Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke was simple: Zenitsu.
Placing the assertive Kujou Hattori with Zenitsu would inevitably lead to harassment.
Beyond Zenitsu's lechery, Kujou Hattori wouldn't be able to fully utilize her leadership skills in the first unit.
Shinichi, Kachi, Seiichiro, and Kenta functioned best as a coordinated team, making Kujou Hattori a better fit for them. It wasn't that she couldn't be in the first unit, but it wasn't the optimal choice.
In the first unit, Shinichi, Kachi, Seiichiro, and Kenta would lack a core leader. If Ryuji led them, the others would have little opportunity to fight. If he fought, they'd be unnecessary.
Switching Tanjiro to the second unit as the core would be good, but without someone to manage Zenitsu, he'd likely take advantage of Kujou Hattori's presence.
Besides Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke's personalities made them unsuitable leaders.
Zenitsu's cowardice in crucial moments could negatively impact the team, despite his sleeping state mitigating this. He was still unsuitable for leadership.
Inosuke's impulsive actions could lead the team to their deaths, making him an unsuitable leader as well.
Ryuji said calmly to Kujou Hattori, "The first unit is… unconventional. There's also a lovesick bachelor. If you don't mind harassment, you can join."
Shinji knew Ryuji meant Zenitsu. During the Final Selection at the Fujikasane Mountains, Shinji had witnessed Zenitsu's fervent pursuit of women.
This had led to a humorous incident where Zenitsu confessed to a very cute boy, mistaking him for a girl. Shinji admitted he wouldn't have known either, making Zenitsu's mistake understandable.
Kujou Hattori considered this, ultimately deciding Ryuji's initial decision was best. She'd spent nearly two months with the second unit and understood Shinichi, Kachi, Seiichiro, and Kenta.
"I'll stay in the second unit," Kujou Hattori said.
Ryuji warned, "Opportunities to interact with the first unit will arise; you might even work together. Given your beauty, prepare for harassment from that lovesick bachelor."
While Ryuji could prevent Zenitsu from doing anything extreme, he'd undoubtedly take advantage of the situation.
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